Multi-component aqueous gel solution for control of delayed gelation timing and for resulting gel properties

ABSTRACT

A water based solution having a controllable gel time is disclosed. The solution has predetermined ratios of a water soluble silicate solution having at least one alkali metal, a predetermined ratio of a water dispersible polymer, and a predetermined ratio of a water soluble initiator containing a reactive carbonyl compound.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to the production of oil and natural gas. Moreparticularly, this disclosure relates to methods for controlling theconcomitant production of undesirable fluids such as water from oil andgas-bearing reservoirs, and to repair and seal pipes in production orinjection wells, pipelines, and utility conduits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to the production of oil and natural gas. Moreparticularly, this disclosure relates to methods for controlling theconcomitant production of undesirable fluids such as water from oil andgas-bearing reservoirs. Such produced water can be reservoir water,occasioned by coning or such similar phenomena of the aquifer or it canbe injection water from secondary recovery treatments being applied tothe reservoir. Whatever the source, there is an upper limit beyond whichwater production can no longer be tolerated and its further entry intothe producing well bore must be at least reduced if further productionof the hydrocarbon resources at that location is to be continued.

Regardless of whether the undesired fluid is a natural drive fluid (e.g.water) or an artificial drive fluid (e.g., from secondary recoveryliquid or gas projects, gas repressurization, miscible displacementprojects, etc.), the problem is primarily occasioned by the predilectionof the natural or artificial drive fluid to preferentially seek thehigher permeability zone and to more or less bypass the lowerpermeability zones.

Among the prior solutions to the problem of undesirable fluid entry isthe placing or forming of a plug within the formation. At one time suchplugs were of a solid nature, such as cement, regardless of whether theundesirable fluids were liquid or gas. Such solid plugs, while at leastpartially effective for the intended purpose, inhibit the use of theundesirable fluid to assist in driving the desired fluid from theformation into the producing well bore. In addition, the use of suchsolid plugs invariably results in the permanent loss of desired fluids.Further, should the undesirable fluids seep around or otherwise bypasssuch solid plugs, the plug cannot change or shift position to block suchseepage or other changes in flow pattern of the undesired fluid.

To overcome the shortcomings of the use of solid plugs such as cement,there was developed the concept of modifying the mobility of fluidspresent in the subterranean formations. Such methods have generally beendirected to modifying the mobility of the hydrocarbon-displacing liquidmedium. The mobility of any fluid in a permeable geological formation isthe effective permeability of the formation to that liquid divided bythe viscosity of the fluid. Thus, a commonly developed method forreducing the mobility of a particular fluid in a permeable geologicalformation is to increase its viscosity such as by using viscoussolutions of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides such as described bySandiford et al in U.S. Pat. No. 2,827,964 and McKennon U.S. Pat. No.3,039,529.

A serious problem in the secondary recovery of oil from oil bearing orcontaining subterranean formations, wherein a fluid such as water isinjected into the formation via one or more injection wells to drive theoil through the formation to one or more production wells, is thedevelopment of high permeability flow zones. These high permeabilityflow zone are known as “thief” zones and permit the drive fluid tochannel directly from the injection well to the production well. In manyinstances, the channeling or fingering resulting from the injection wellto the production well results in a low volumetric sweep efficiency.Substantial quantities of oil are left in the less permeable zones ofthe formation, which are bypassed in the process. Induced fractures areoften the result of over-pressuring the formation at some point. Inother instances, water breakthrough may be related to permeabilitycontrasts between different layers, which may or may not be in verticalcommunication in the reservoir. Permeability modification treatmentshelp improve volumetric sweep efficiency. In waterfloods, injection-welltreatments are most common.

What is needed is a system and method for addressing the above, andrelated, issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspectthereof, comprises a water based solution having a controllable geltime. The solution has predetermined ratios of a water soluble silicatesolution having at least one alkali metal, a predetermined ratio of awater dispersible polymer, and a predetermined ratio of a water solubleinitiator containing a reactive carbonyl compounds.

The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in another aspectthereof, comprises a method of using a water based solution having acontrollable gel time. The method includes providing a predeterminedratio of a water soluble silicate solution having at least one alkalimetal, providing a predetermined ratio of a water dispersible polymer,and providing a predetermined ratio of a water soluble initiatorcontaining a reactive carbonyl compound. The method also includescombining the water soluble silicate solution, the dispersible polymer,and the water soluble initiator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment, this disclosure teaches the combination of sodiumsilicate with a “reactive carbonyl” as an initiator in the presence of apolymer such as a polyacrylamide derivative containing various degreesof hydrolysis. This disclosure further teaches methods for utilizing thematerials disclosed in one uniform solution of water-like viscosityplaced as a single slug in the geologic formation to modify reservoirpermeability, or to form a seal for fluid flows into or out of thegeologic formation. The materials disclosure may also be used to repairand seal leaks in pipes in production or injection wells, pipelines,utility pipes or stabilize geologic rocks and soils or other materials.Controlled time delay gelation is disclosed to produce a range of lowviscosity elastic to hard ringing elastic gels.

In one embodiment, the combined use of a sodium silicate with a polymerand an initiator is premixed into a single stage fluid with a water-likeviscosity. After pumping and placement, the composition thickens withtime into a fluid with low viscosity up to a high viscosity hard ringinggel depending on the specific components and their respectiveconcentrations. In one aspect, the disclosure is directed to demonstratethat the composition may be pumped into place as a single stagetreatment.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the composition is asilicate such as sodium silicate and a polymer. The polymer may be asynthetic water-soluble or water dispersible polymer derivative ofacrylamide, methacrylamide, partially hydrolyzed acrylamide, or anacrylate polymer. The polymer may be a natural polymer derivative ofcellulose such as carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethylhydroxyethylcellulose. The polymer may be a xanthan polymer and a “reactivecarbonyl” compound with the functionality of organic carbonates such aspropylene carbonate, aldehydes such as glyoxal, anhydrides such asacetic anhydride, or esters such as ethyl acetate. Various othercomponents may be included in the formulation of the compositionaccording to the needs of the user.

The compositions and method of the present disclosure, described in moredetail below may be used for controlling the concomitant production ofundesirable fluids from oil and gas-bearing reservoirs and for restoringthe mechanical integrity of the downhole production system or injectionsystem for reservoirs in advanced recovery stages. The methods andcompositions of the present disclosure may be used for plugging highpermeability portions of subterranean formations or for permeabilitymodification to reduce water production in favor of increased oil or gasproduction. Plugging ruptures, perforations or pinholes or the like inoil well casings, pipes, pipelines and utility conduits by in situformation of a permanent fluid block in the geological formationadjacent to the rupture, perforation, pinhole or break is alsocontemplated. Drilling of oil and gas, geothermal, or other wells thathave problem geological zones or formations that prevent the drillingprocess from continuing may also be addressed. Problems addressableusing the composition and method of the instant disclosure include ‘lostcirculation’ or thief zones that take the drilling fluid such that thedrilled cuttings cannot be removed from the well. Similarly, zones thatprovide a large influx of formation waters or zones that are notstabilized and slough off into the well during the drilling operationmay also be addressed as will be described more fully below.Compositions and methods are providing for blocking off thief zones tothereby permit the forcing of oil from the less permeable zones by theapplication of fluid pressure directly to such zones, without the lossof fluid and fluid pressure through the adjacent thief zones.

The compositions and methods of the present disclosure also relate tothe repair of pipe damage, holes and leaks as in oil and gas casings,pipelines, utility conduits and other pipes. Holes and leaks can developin pipes from age (corrosion, erosion, etc.) or external damage and mustbe repaired for safety, environment protection and loss of product.Sometimes the pipe cannot be fully replaced and a reliable repairmechanism is needed to put the pipe back into operation. Previously suchoptions were limited to cementing the hole or leak, but a successfulpressure test after this operation is not likely. A new pipe or linercan be installed and cemented or grouted inside the damaged pipe, but aseverely reduced ID results which limits future operations. Anenvironmentally friendly liquid gel, such as that disclosed herein,could be pumped, placed across the pipe hole and out into thesurrounding soils or rocks and be allowed to form a strong gel thatwould hold low pressures in the pipe during operations and resistchemical attack would aid in maintaining our aging infrastructure. Thus,in one embodiment, the compositions and methods of the presentdisclosure provides new repair mechanisms.

It is often required to plug off or seal off geological zones that thiefoff or take the expensive drilling fluids utilized to clean cuttings ofthe well and control the well pressures. The loss of this fluid preventcleaning the drill cuttings out of well, endanger the environment byloss of control of the well or increase cost by replacement of the drillfluids. Methods to plug off geologic zones that cause problems on theother extreme end are zones that allow large volumes of formation fluidsto come into the well during the drilling process and endangering wellcontrol or increasing the cost of disposal of those excess fluids. Also,some geological zones that are drilled are so unstable that a holethrough them cannot be maintained due to the formation continuouslyfalling into the hole and sticking the drill equipment in place. Methodsto stabilize these formations during or after the drilling process areprovided herein. Previously, cements, polymers, cellophane, groundwalnut shells and epoxies have been utilized. However cements dilute andcake off before sealing, and epoxies are very expensive. Thecompositions and method of the present disclosure provide new pluggingand sealing capabilities by mixing and pumping into place deep into thegeologic zones and allowing a strong gel to set thereby holding the rockin place and sealing and plugging the flow channels.

The compositions and methods of the present disclosure also provide forthe creation of an environmental containment barrier to prevent flow ofcontainments out of a designated area. A trench can be dug to below thegeologic zone of interest and the gel composition (as will be describedin greater detail below) can poured or pumped, with or without mixingwith soil, to form an impenetrable wall. Conversely, wells can bedrilled through the geologic zone of interest with the containment andaround or downstream of the containment and the gel injected into thezone of interest and allowed to set to form a barrier to flow.

Surface grouting of rocks and other materials, where the compositiondescribed herein are mixed and spread between rocks or other materialsto provide a seal to flow and protect or hold the rocks and othermaterials in place, is also contemplated. The solution or compositionmay also be mixed with other solids, such as sand or cements, foradditional strength and color.

Stabilization applications of the present disclosure for use with soils,gravels and other loose materials to prevent erosion or sloughing arealso contemplated. Such applications can be seen in road banks where therock bed has been cut for a road or highway path. In this application,the solution would be mixed with, spread, poured or sprayed on the loosematerials and allowed to soak into the material pore space then allowedto set and form a strong gel.

Other features of the compositions and methods of the presentdisclosure, include, among other items: a simplified method of using asingle stage treatment; compositions based on economical and/orenvironmentally friendly chemicals; plugging high permeability portionsof subterranean formations for permeability modification to reduce waterproduction in favor of increased oil or gas production; pluggingruptures, perforations or pinholes or the like in oil, gas or injectionwell casings, pipelines, and utility conduits by in situ formation of apermanent fluid block in the geological formation adjacent to therupture, perforation, pinhole or break; a controlled gelation with a lowwater-like viscosity fluid and after in-depth pumping has subsided,thickening with time into a low viscosity, elastic gel for the purposesof permeability modification in the reservoir; controlled gelation witha low water-like viscosity fluid and after pumping has subsided,thickening with time into a high viscosity hard ringing, elastic gel forthe purposes of repairing casing and pipe leaks; plugging of problemgeologic zones or formations during the drilling process, where the gelsolution is mixed and pumped across and into the zone of interest andallowed to gel and seal off the offending fluid flow; stabilization ofsubterranean geological zones during the drilling process, where the gelsolution is mixed and pumped across and into the zone of interest andallowed to set and form a strong gel to hold the formation fragments,sand grains in place to allow the drilling process to continue;stabilization of surface loose materials and soils to prevent sloughingand erosion by pouring or spraying the mixed gel solution over the loosematerials and allowing the liquid solution to soak into the mix andallowing the gel to set forming a strong gel holding and sealing all inplace. This solution can also be pumped or pressurized into porousmaterials for binding, sealing, strengthening and protecting saidmaterial and thereby changing its properties and potential uses.

By way of background, application of silicates in different industrialareas is well documented. Injection of silicate solutions intoreservoirs with the aim at enhancing the recovery factor through adiverting effect was proposed by Ronald Van Auken Mills in U.S. Pat. No.1,421,706 in 1922. Acidic gel systems may be the oldest and mostcommonly employed techniques that employ silicates. These gels are moreaccurately described as precipitation type gels since they are extremelybrittle with virtually no elasticity. In the early 1960's, sodiumsilicate and glyoxal were combined (U.S. Pat. No. 3,028,340) to makevarious hard cement-like coatings on substrates. At low concentrations afirm gel was obtained that lacked cohesiveness and was not as hard ascement. In 1964, Gandon et.al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,149,985) took went astep further and cited sodium silicate reactions with other “reactivecarbonyl” compounds such as polyalcohol esters to make cement likesubstances. One goal of these technologies was to make agents togenerate very hard consolidated soils for constructing structures suchas bridges, dams and water reservoirs on the soil surface. Throughoutthe last 50 years numerous inventors patented various sodium silicatesystems (U.S. Pat. No. 2,747,670, U.S. Pat. No. 2,807,324, U.S. Pat. No.3,435,899, U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,644, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,361, U.S. Pat.No. 6,059,035 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,035 all of which patents areincorporated herein by reference) to make gels for use in plugging highpermeability areas of oil and gas producing reservoirs. In theliterature, an SPE Paper #13578 presented by Krumrine and Boyce(“Profile Modification and Water Control With Silica Gel-Based Systems”,P. H. Krumrine and S. D. Boyce, 1985) is considered a milestone becausethis paper is not only a complete summary of the topic listing numerouspapers and patents on sodium silicate chemistry as applied to oil fieldand grouting applications, but they also drew attention to acontroversial fact that the silicate use was inequitably neglected incommercial applications in favor of polymer treatments in practice atthe time.

Many chemicals can serve as initiators. An initiator can be defined as achemical which causes a sodium silicate solution to gel in a delayedfashion. It should be noted that the gel is not simply a precipitate.Metal ions such as calcium, can cause immediate precipitation of awater-insoluble metal silicate. This is not a gelatinous precipitate.Therefore, an initiator for the purposes of this disclosure may bedefined in at least one embodiment as a chemical which causes thedelayed formation of a gelatinous silica when added to a sodium silicatesolution. Many initiators are acidic, water-soluble chemicals whichlower the pH of the silicate solution to a point at least below about11. Preferably, the pH should be lowered to a level between about 9 and10. Most ammonium salts of strong acids are effective. Examples includeammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium bicarbonate ammoniumnitrate ammonium chloride and the like. Of these examples, the preferredinitiator in the art is ammonium sulfate, principally because of its lowcost. Methods of delaying rapid reactions in the prior art involvemultiple stage treatments such as pumping alternating slugs of sodiumsilicate and the initiator separated with inactive slugs of fresh waterwhen the initiator reacts rapidly. This complexity allows for delayedgelatin in the formation after the placement of the two reactants;however this does not allow for in-depth placement of the silicate gels.

Although the sodium silicate technology was the first plugging andpermeability modification technology largely put to practice, the use ofgelled polymers based on polyacrylamide and chromium salts with reducingagents or organochromium compounds became more popular in the 1970's and1980's because of their unique versatility to make hard and soft elasticgels rather than the inelastic gels formed using sodium silicatechemistry. Phillips Petroleum Company was a pioneer in this area and waslater followed by Marathon Oil Company with similar technology usingpolyacrylamide-chromium gelled systems. For example, Needham in 1968,U.S. Pat. No. 3,412,793, proposed the injection of a stable foam into ahigh permeability formation. Other prior art proposed various gelledpolymers, such as carboxyethyl and carboxymethyl cellulose (U.S. Pat.No. 3,727,687, Clampitt et al, 1973), polyacrylamides andpolymethacrylamides (U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,172, Hessert et al, 1973), andvarious combinations and modifications of these (U.S. Pat. No.3,762,476, Gall, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,785,437, Clampitt et al, 1974). AtMarathon Oil Company, Argabright et al proposed the use of low molecularweigh aldehydes as a crosslinking agent for polyacrylamide (U.S. Pat.No. 4,098,337) in 1978 and later in 1984 Falk (U.S. Pat. No. 4,485,875)proposed the use of phenol with formaldehyde as a crosslinkingcombination for polyacrylamides.

Crosslinked polymer treatments utilize metal ions such as chromium(Cr⁺⁶) combined with reducing agents in the polymer solution. Thepolymer molecules are bonded to one another with the metal ion in adelayed fashion greatly increasing the resultant gel's ability todevelop resistance to the flow of fluids in the reservoir rock.Depending on the polymer concentration, crosslinking agent and rate, awide range of permeability adjustment is possible. The polyacrylamideconcentration is usually in the range of 3000-10,000 ppm of a highmolecular weight polymer. For a low molecular weight polymer the rangeis 20,000 to 50,000 ppm. The gelling agents consist of multivalentmetals of chromium, aluminum and iron. These are used in the oxidizedmetal form with a suitable reducing agent such as sodiumdichromate/sodium thiosulfate or a metal in the reduced form bonded toligands such as chromium triacetate or aluminum citrate. Generally,300-10,000 ppm oxidant to 900-30,000 ppm reductant are used per unit ofpolymer. Low molecular weight aldehydes such as formaldehyde andderivatives, among others, are known to crosslink polymers inconcentrations ranging from 0.1-50% of polymer under acidic conditionsat room temperature.

At Union Oil Company, Sandiford proposed improved methods (U.S. Pat. No.3,741,307 in 1973, U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,639 in 1977, U.S. Pat. No.4,009,755 in 1977, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,069,869 in 1978) to waterfloodingwhereby various combinations of polymer flooding with polyacrylamide andplugging of high permeability areas with sodium silicate andderivatives. In this method, following injection of enough polymer topenetrate between 20-50 feet from the wellbore, sequential slugs ofchromates and the silicate technologies of the prior art arecontemplated as a follow-in plug that substantially reduces thepermeability of the more permeable strata of the formation to thesubsequently injected flooding media. These systems constitute complexsolutions containing chromium cross-linkers, reducing agents, silicatesand silicate gelling agents known in the art. The sodium silicate ispreferred at 3-10 weight percent of the plugging fluid with a volumethat can penetrate between 5 to 10 feet from the wellbore.

Competitive polymer gel systems are used successfully as an alternativeto cement, or in combination with cement, to squeeze casing leaks andimprove mechanical well integrity. They also are used instead ofmechanical methods of cupped packers. Hard gels are used to hold a solidpressure in the casing or to block encroachment of foreign water into aproducing well or block pressure leakoff into the formation. Advantagesof using polymers are two-fold. Polymers can be washed out of thewellbore after a leak is squeezed, preventing the costly rig timenecessary to drill out cement. Second, since polymer solutions exert amuch lower hydrostatic pressure than a cement slurry, there is lesspossibility of breaking down the formation and losing the squeeze. Thefour (4) basic commercial polymer gel systems are:

Acrylic Monomer Grout: Acrylic monomer grout is a non-toxic, yetexpensive, system that is effective on tight casing leaks and pressureleak-off situations. These leaks bleed off pressure. Since the leaks aresmall, it is difficult to pump viscous fluids through the leak. Acrylicmonomer grout pumps as a water-thin fluid, then sets up into a tough,ringing gel. Gel times can be controlled from 10 minutes to 2 hours,depending on temperature. Treatment sizes typically range from 10-25bbl. An example of an acrylic monomer grout might be found in ClarkeU.S. Pat. No. 4,094,150.

Low Molecular Weight Polymers: High concentrations of low molecularweight polymers are useful for leaks ranging from tight pressureleak-off situations to moderate leaks that can be pumped into underpressure. This system is crosslinked with standard metalliccrosslinkers, or organic crosslinking systems.

High Molecular Weight Polymers: High molecular weight polymers are mosteffective in larger leaks, to correct channeling behind pipe, and forsome lost circulation applications. The primary benefit of this systemis the ability to economically block the flow of foreign water into thewellbore or block the outflow of produced fluids to thief zones. Thedisadvantage is that most of the crosslinkers are based on chromium, anenvironmentally unfriendly substance.

Cement/Polymer Combination: Squeezes are used in severe casing leaksthat require mechanical integrity and are unlikely to be successfullysealed using either cement or polymer alone. On difficult leaks, such asin salt sections where multiple cement jobs are often attempted beforethe leak is successfully squeezed off, a small slug (25-50 bbls) ofcrosslinked polymer is injected ahead of the cement as a buffer toprevent the cement from washing out the squeeze section. Polymers tendto adsorb or bond to the formation while the bulk gel fills the largervoids. This action slows down cement leakoff providing the cementsomething to squeeze against.

Most of the prior methods and materials involve either highconcentrations of silicates combined with precipitation or gelationagents utilizing complex multiple stage treatments to obtain delayedgelation or materials that involve natural or synthetic polymers withdelayed crosslinking based on chromium or other toxic environmentallyunfriendly metals or the combination thereof. Some of these methods havebeen used to seal casing leaks in lieu of using cement, although the useof toxic metals to crosslink polymers in shallow wells or stripper wellshas become a problematic in light of increasing environmentalsensitivity. OSHA's final standard for occupational exposure (ThresholdLimit Value, TLV) to hexavalent chromium, effective May 30, 2006, hasbeen lowered to 0.5 micrograms of Cr(VI) per cubic meter of air forhandling chromium six compounds in industry and shipyards. There is alsoa major concern regarding chromium contamination of aquifers around oiland gas wells.

In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a single stagetreatment method using the combination of a Silicate, a Polymer, and anInitiator (hereinafter referred to as SPI gel) that will provideenvironmentally acceptable and controlled gelation for the purpose ofin-depth plugging of subterranean formation permeability and sealingcasing leaks.

The methods and compositions of the present disclosure may be utilizedto produce gels having desired resulting gel properties. For purposes ofthe present disclosure these resulting gel properties may include hardringing, hard elastic, hard firm, weak elastic, and high viscosity. Inother embodiments, gels having desired resulting gel properties mayinclude weaker gels, or gels with a specified viscosity in parting.Desired resulting gel properties may also include a high degree ofhomogeneity, high strength, and/or high elasticity. Undesired gelproperties may include brittleness or being subject to syneresis.

Uniform silicate gels of the prior art are almost impossible to preparebecause the reaction is rapid. Therefore, most silicates form veryrigid, non-uniform gels subject to fracturing or syneresis withconcomitant shrinkage. Certain “reactive carbonyls” such as esters,amides and other derivatives disclosed by the prior art form delayedgels with sodium silicate as an improvement but the gels are brittlewithout elasticity and the gels require high concentrations ofmaterials.

On the other hand gels with polyacrylamide and the dichromate ion with areducing agent such as sodium hydrosulfite form an elastic gel withoutthe brittleness and other disadvantages of the silicate systems.Polyacrylamide and certain “reactive carbonyls” such as aldehydes areknown to form gels at low pH and high concentrations of the reagents,but as reported, gels do not form at neutral pH.

It has been proposed that gels formed between sodium silicate and a“reactive carbonyl” are due to the ability of the “reactive carbonyl” tohydrolyze and produce hydrogen ions that lower the pH of the sodiumsilicate solution, and thereby causing precipitating or gelling in adelayed fashion. Examples of initiators that are said to undergohydrolysis are the various esters and amides. Yet another mechanismproposed for sodium silicate interactions with certain “reactivecarbonyls” is via the Cannizzaro reaction to yield an acid salt and analcohol. Examples of suitable initiators of this type are aldehydeshaving no alpha hydrogen atoms on an sp³ carbon atom such asformaldehyde, glyoxal, benzaldehyde, furfural, andtrimethylacetaldehyde. If the substrate does have an alpha hydrogen atomon an sp³ carbon atom, then an Aldol Condensation is the most likelyreaction path, yielding a beta hydroxy aldehyde condensation product.Yet another mechansism invokes a complex redox system whereby theinitiators are easily oxidized alcohols or aldehydes in combination withperoxides, persulfates, or perborates as the oxidization agent. All ofthese reactions occur in a highly alkaline medium with a strong base.These mechanisms are not necessarily supported for the SPI gel of thepresent disclosure. It is of note that with the SPI gel, no gel isformed with formaldehyde at room temperature, yet good gels are formedwith glyoxal ruling out a Cannizzaro type reaction.

In the laboratory, it was determined that when very low concentrationseach of hydrolyzed polyacrylamide was added to sodium silicate in thepresence of either glyoxal or propylene carbonate initiator, varyingtypes of gels were formed ranging from soft gels to very hard, ringinggels with gel times of minutes to days. These preferred gels formed inthis manner are more elastic in behavior like a polyacrylamide gelinstead of possessing the characteristic brittleness of sodium silicategels with an initiator. In the absence of sodium silicate,polyacrylamide (at neutral pH) did not react with glyoxal or propylenecarbonate. In the absence of a “reactive carbonyl” initiator, sodiumsilicate did not react with polyacrylamide. However, it is known in theart that sodium silicate and the “reactive carbonyl” initiators react,but perhaps by a different mechanism to provide a gel of inferiorqualities compared to that of the present disclosure.

Sodium silicate is a complicated system of various molecular weightsilica polymers in an alkaline solution. Aside from requiring a certainminimum amount of buffered alkalinity, sodium silicate has no definitechemical combining numbers. When sodium silicate is acidified to a pH ofless than about 10, the sodium silicate is converted partially tosilicic acid. Silicic acid exists at these alkaline pH's as it is such aweak acid. Instead of precipitating and making silica, SiO2, the silicicacid remains hydrated and forms a three-dimensional network in trappingthe solvent water. This network is a gel since both phases arecontinuous. A slight lowering of the pH brings about radical changes ingel time. Consequently, gel times can be difficult to control, andlumping from local acid concentrations during large scale mixingfrequently occurs.

Silicates which can be used for the compositions and processes of thepresent disclosure are the water soluble silicates which form silicatepolymer chains or gel upon acidification. The preferred silicates arethose of the alkali metals, especially sodium or potassium andcombinations thereof. These silicates are commercially available as drypowders or concentrated aqueous solutions having in the range of fromabout 38 to 55 parts solids per hundred parts of solution and a pH inthe range of from 10 to 13. Preferably, the water-soluble silicates,that are employed in the present disclosure have a molar ratio ofsilicon dioxide to alkali metal oxide in the range of from about 0.5:1to about 3.5:1 and the alkali metal is sodium, potassium, and mixturesthereof. Most preferably, the ratio should be from about 3:1 to about3.5:1.

The concentration of sodium silicate in the plugging solution can varyover a wide range from 0.05 percent to 50% and preferably between 1 to30 percent. Preferred weaker gels are formed at the lower concentrationsmore suitable for permeability modification treatments of the presentdisclosure and preferred stronger gel plugs are formed at the higherconcentrations most suitable for casing leak plugging.

The polymeric materials which are suitable for use in the practice ofthe compositions and methods of the present disclosure include at leastone chemically crosslinkable, at least water-dispersible polymerselected from the group consisting of polyacrylamides and relatedpolymers, cellulose ethers, and polysaccharides which can be gelled orcrosslinked in an aqueous medium with the SPI gel initiators describedherein. Unless otherwise specified, the term “polymer” is employedgenerically to include both homopolymers and copolymers; and the term“water-dispersible polymers” is employed to include those polymers whichare truly water-soluble and those which are dispersible in water orother aqueous medium, with or without a dispersant, to form stablecolloidal suspensions which can be gelled or crosslinked as describedherein. The polymers of the present disclosure may be used in thephysical form of either a dry powder, a water concentrate or an inverseemulsion.

The polyacrylamides and related polymers which can be employed in thepractice of the present disclosure include at least one chemicallycrosslinkable, at least water-dispersible polymer which can be used inan aqueous medium with the initiators hereinafter described to give anaqueous gel; said polymers being selected from the group consisting of:polyacrylamides and polymethacrylamides wherein up to about 75 percentof the carboxamide groups can be hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups;crosslinked polyacrylamides and crosslinked polymethacrylamides whereinup to about 75 percent of the carboxamide groups can be hydrolyzed tocarboxyl groups; polyacrylic acid and polymethacrylic acid;polyacrylates; polymers of N-substituted acrylamides wherein thenitrogen atoms in the carboxamide groups can have from 1 to 2 alkylsubstitutents which contain from one to four carbon atoms; copolymers ofacrylamide with another ethylenically unsaturated monomercopolymerizable therewith, sufficient acrylamide being present in themonomer mixture to impart said water-dispersible properties to theresulting copolymer when it is mixed with water, and wherein up to about75 percent of the carboxamide groups can be hydrolyzed to carboxylgroups; and admixtures of such polymers. Presently preferredpolyacrylamide-type polymers include the various substantially linearhomopolymers and copolymers of acrylamide and methacrylamide. Bysubstantially linear it is meant that the polymers are substantiallyfree of crosslinking between the polymer chains. Said polymers can haveup to about 75, preferably up to about 45 percent, of the carboxamidegroups hydrolyzed to carboxyl groups. As used herein and in the claims,unless otherwise specified, the term “hydrolyzed” includes modifiedpolymers wherein the carboxyl groups are in the acid form and also suchpolymers wherein the carboxyl groups are in the salt form, providingsaid salts are at least water-dispersible. Such salts include theammonium salts, the alkali metal salts, and others which are at leastwater-dispersible. Hydrolysis can be carried out in any suitablefashion, for example, by heating an aqueous solution of the polymer witha suitable amount of sodium hydroxide.

Substantially linear polyacrylamides can be prepared by methods known inthe art. For example, the polymerization can be carried out in aqueousmediums, in the presence of a small but effective amount of a watersoluble oxygen-containing catalyst, e.g., a thiosulfate or bisulfate ofpotassium or sodium hydroperoxide at a temperature between about 30° and80° C. The resulting polymer is recovered from the aqueous medium, as bydrum drying, and can be subsequently ground to the desired particlesize. A presently preferred particle size is such that about 90 weightpercent will pass through a No. 10 mesh sieve, and not more than about10 weight percent will be retained on a No. 200 mesh sieve (U.S. Bureauof Standards Sieve Series).

Included among the copolymers which can be used in the practice of thepresent disclosure are the at least water dispersible copolymersresulting from the polymerization of the major proportion of acrylamideor methacrylamide and a minor proportion of an ethylenically unsaturatedmonomer copolymerizable therewith. In some embodiments, it is desirablethat sufficient acrylamide or methacrylamide be present in the monomermixture to impart to the copolymer the above-described water-dispersibleproperties, for example, from about 10 to about 99 percent acrylamideand from about 1 to 90 percent other ethylenically unsaturated monomers.Such monomers include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinyl pyrrolidone,vinyl sulfonic acid, vinyl benzyl sulfonic acid, vinyl benzene sulfonicacid, vinyl acetate, acrylonitrile, methylacrylonitrile, vinyl alkylether, vinyl chloride, maleic anhydride, and the like. Various methodsare known in the art for preparing such copolymers, e.g., (U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,625,529; 2,740,522; 2,729,557; 2,831,841; and 2,909,508). Suchcopolymers can be used in the hydrolyzed form, as discussed above forthe homopolymers.

Polyacrylic acids, including polymethacrylic acid, prepared by methodsknown in the art can also be used in the practice of the methods andcomposition of the present disclosure.

Polyacrylates, e.g., as described in Kirk-Othmer, “Encyclopedia ofChemical Technology,” Vol. 1, second edition, pages 305 et seq.,Interscience Publishers, Inc., NewYork (1963), can also be used in thepractice of the methods and compositiosn of the present disclosure.Examples of such polyacrylates include polymers of methylacrylate,ethylacrylate, n-propylacrylate, isopropylacrylate, n-butylacrylate,isobutylacrylate, tert-butylacrylate, n-octylacrylate, and the like.Polyacrylate acrylamide copolymers may also be used in the practice ofthe methods and compositions of the present disclosure. A preferredexample might include a copolymer of acrylamide and t-butyl acrylate.

Polymers of N-alkyl-substituted acrylamides wherein the nitrogen atomsand the carboxamide groups can have from 1 to 2 alkyl substituents whichcontain from one to four carbon atoms can also be used in the practiceof the methods and compositions of the present disclosure. Examples ofsuch N-substituted acrylamides include, among others,N-methylacrylamide, N-propylacrylamide, N-butylacrylamide,N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-methyl-N-sec-butylacrylamide, and the like, atvarious stages of hydrolysis, as described above.

Other N-alkyl-substituted acrylamides wherein the nitrogen atoms and thecarboxamide groups can have an alkyl sulfonic acid group or salt thereofmay be used in the practice of the present disclosure. Examples of suchsubstituents include the widely used 2-Acrylamido-2-MethylPropaneSulfonic acid (AMPS) monomer from the Lubrizol Corporation. Polymers ofacrylamide and AMPS and/or vinyl pyrrolidone have better thermal andbrine tolerance in oil field applications (Stahl et. al. U.S. Pat. No.5,382,371). These polymers have become known as the Hostile Environment(HE) polymers. HE polymers are highly tolerant to hydrolysis eliminatingthe formation of precipitates with divalent ions such as calcium andmagnesium at high temperatures up to and including 300 F. HE polymersmay be crosslinked by various methods of the art and this disclosure toform excellent gels with long-term stability.

Crosslinked polyacrylamides and crosslinked polymethacrylamides atvarious stages of hydrolysis as described above can also be used in thepractice of the methods of the present disclosure. In general, saidcrosslinked polyacrylamides can be prepared by the methods describedabove but including in a monomeric mixture a suitable amount of suitablecrosslinking agent. Examples of crosslinking agents include,methylenebisacrylamide, divinylbenzene,vinyl ether, divinylether, andothers. Said crosslinking agents can be used in small amounts, e.g., upto about 1 percent by weight of the monomeric mixture. Such crosslinkingis to be distinguished from any crosslinking which might occur whensolutions of polymers are gelled as described herein. Mixtures of theabove described polymers can also be used in the practice of the presentdisclosure.

Crosslinked polyacrylates and crosslinked polymethacrylates can also beused in the practice of the methods of the present disclosure. Ingeneral, said crosslinked polyacrylacrylates and copolymers can beprepared by the methods described in the prior art using a monomericmixture with a suitable amount of suitable crosslinking agent. Saidpolymerizable monomeric mixture might include acrylic acid and sodiumacrylate with methacrylic groups, allyl groups, divinyl groups,polyglycoldiacrylates, methylene bisacrylamide groups, and water solublestarches and celluloses. The polymerization catalysts might be freeradical initiators or a redox class such as any of the well known watersoluble reducing agents and oxidizing agents used in the polymerizationart. Crosslinking monomers might include polyacrylic esters of polyols,polymethacrylic esters of polyols, polyallyl amines, polyallyl ethers,polyacrylamido compounds, polymethacrylamido compounds and divinylcompounds. Harumasa (U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,930) produced super absorbentpolymers by polymerizing acrylic acid in an inverse emulsion processfollowed by crosslinking the polymer with a diepoxide compound. Suchcrosslinking is to be distinguished from any crosslinking which mightoccur when solutions of polymers are gelled as described herein.Mixtures of the above described polymers can also be used in thepractice of the present disclosure.

Crosslinked polyacrylates are water insoluble hydrogel-forming polymerswhich are capable of absorbing large quantities of water and aqueousfluids. These “super absorbent polymers” (SAP) as they are commonlyknown in the industry, are particularly useful in diapers, femininehygiene articles and surgical dressings. Typically, polymers with highgel strength such as linear polyacrylamides and derivatives previouslydescribed in this application exhibit reduced reabsorbing capacity. If aparticular gel of the present disclosure were to have a tendency forwater syneresis and shrinkage with age, this property would be lessdesirable in some cases than a gel with out any indication of watersyneresis and shrinkage. In some embodiments a stabilizing amount of acrosslinked polyacrylate hydrogel-forming polymer or super absorbentpolymer may be added to gelling mixtures of the present disclosure. Insome embodiments this addition mitigates deleterious effects of longterm syneresis or gel shrinkage producing a gel with a desired gelstrength, gel time and/or cost effectiveness that might otherwise bedifficult to obtain.

Carrier solvents are important for dispersing SAP into the inventivemixture without prematurely dehydrating the gel solution of theinvention or the components into a heterogeneous mass. Such carriersolvents are thought to temporarily retard the SAP's water absorptionrate which can have the effect of drastically shortening the gel time ofthe invention. Such carrier solvents include but are not limited topolyols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, andpolyethylene glycols such as the Polyethylene Glycol E-Series productsof Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich.

EXAMPLE 1

Introduction of 0.50 g of a water insoluble crosslinked polyacrylateSAP, AN915 from Expo Chemical Companies in Houston, Tex. directly to theinventive formulation containing 2.00 g sodium silicate, 10.00 g of a5,000 ppm solution of SFA 120 PAM and 10.00 g of BTW. The mixture wasshaken and 1.00 g of propylene carbonate was added and the mixture wasshaken again. The procedure was a failure because the mixture neverdispersed evenly in solution. The super absorbent polymer actuallyabsorbed all of the water prior to the inventive gelling process asdescribed herein.

EXAMPLE 2

The experiment was repeated using a carrier solvent to disperse thesuper absorbent polymer into the inventive mixture as for the purposesof stabilizing any post gelling water of syneresis. A gel solution wasprepared in the following order of component addition with shakingbetween the additions: 3.50 g ethylene glycol is added to 0.50 g ofAN915 SAP; 4.00 g of N-Sodium Silicate; 15.00 g of a 5000 ppm solutionof 1:1 mixture of SFA 300 HMW and SFA 300 LMW non-ionic PAM; 20.00 g ofBTW; and 1.00 g propylene carbonate was prepared. At this point ahomogeneous solution formed that gelled in 35 minutes to a very hardringing gel. The gel ringing phenomenon was observed by simply putting aslight pressure on the surface of the gel with a finger and the ringingwas felt on the sides of the jar. No syneresis was observed up onsetting. A portion of the gel was removed and placed in a dish with anequal weight of water. The water was absorbed by the gel.

EXAMPLE 3

The experiment was repeated using a carrier solvent to disperse thesuper absorbent polymer into the inventive mixture as for the purposesof stabilizing any post gelling water of syneresis. A gel solution wasprepared in the following order of component addition with shakingbetween the additions: 2.50 g ethylene glycol is added to 0.050 g ofAN915 SAP; 0.55 g of N-Sodium Silicate; 4.60 g of a 5000 ppm solution of1:1 mixture of SFA 300 HMW and SFA 300 LMW non-ionic PAM; 13.00 g ofBTW; and 0.23 g propylene carbonate was prepared. At this point ahomogeneous solution formed that gelled in approximately 24 hrs to asoft or weak gel without syneresis useful for permeability modificationtreatments. A previous sample of the same formulation made without thestabilizing amount of SAP was considered a weak gel with some watersyneresis.

Representative cellulose ethers which can be used in the practice of thepresent disclosure include, among others, the various carboxyalkylcellulose ethers, e.g., carboxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC); mixed ethers such as carboxyalkyl hydroxyalkyl ethers,e.g., carboxymethylhdyroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC); hydroxyalkylcelluloses such as hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose;alkylhydroxylakyl celluloses such as methylhydroxypropyl cellulose;alkyl celluloses such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, and propylcellulose; alkylcarboxylakyl celluloses such as ethylcarboxymethylcellulose; alkylalkyl celluloses such as methylethyl cellulose; andhydroxyalkylalkyl celluloses such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose; andthe like. Many of said cellulose ethers are available commerically invarious grades. The carboxysubstituted cellulose ethers are available asthe alkali metal salt, usually the sodium salts. However, the metal isseldom referred to and they are commonly referred to as CMC, CMHEC forcarboxymethylhydroxyethyl cellulose etc. For example water-soluble CMCis available in various degrees of carboxylate substitution ranging fromabout 0.3 up to the maximum degree of substitution of 3.0. In general,CMC having a degree of substitution in the range of 0.65 to 0.95 ispreferred. Frequently, CMC having a degree of substitution in the rangeof 0.85 to 0.95 is a more preferred cellulose ether. CMC having a degreeof substitution less than the above-preferred ranges is usually lessuniform in properties and thus less desirable. CMC having a degree ofsubstitution greater than the above-preferred ranges usually has a lowerviscosity and more is required in preparing suitable aqueouscompositions. Said degree of substitution of CMC is commonly designatedin practice as CMC-7, CMC-9, CMC-12, etc., wherein the 7, 9, and 12refer to a degree of substitution of 0.7,0.9 and 1.2, respectively.

In the above-described mixed ethers, it is preferred that the portionthereof which contains the carboxylate groups be substantial instead ofa mere trace. For example, in CMHEC it is preferred that thecarboxymethyl degree of substitution be at least 0.4. The degree ofhydroxyethyl substitution is less important and can vary widely, e.g.,from about 0.1 or lower to about 4 or higher.

The amount of cellulose ether used in preparing the aqueous compositionsused in the practice of the present disclosure can vary widely dependingupon the viscosity, grade and purity of the ether and properties desiredin the aqueous compositions of the disclosure. In general, the amount ofcellulose ether used will be at least a water-thickening amount, i.e.,at least an amount which will significantly thicken the water to whichit is added. For example, amounts in the order of 25 to 100 parts permillion by weight (0.0025 to 0.01 weight percent) have been found tosignificantly thicken water. Water containing 25 ppm of CMC has aviscosity increase of about 21 percent. At 50 ppm the viscosity increasein about 45 percent. At 100 ppm the viscosity increase is about 195percent. Generally speaking, amounts in the range of from about 0.0025to about 5.0, preferably from about 0.01 to about 1.5, weight percent,based on the weight of water, can be used as thickening amounts. Amountsoutside these ranges can also be used. Amounts within said preferredranges provide aqueous compositions which are better suited for theplugging operations described herein than are the more dilute or moreconcentrated compositions which can be prepared. Amounts of celluloseether within the above ranges provide aqueous compositions which developgood gel strength when crosslinked in situ within the formation.

Representative of the polysaccharides which can be used in forming thepolymeric compositions of this disclosure are the heteropolysaccharidesproduced by fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria of the genusXanthomonas. Exemplary of such heteropolysaccharides are those producedby Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas begonia, Xanthomonas phaseoli,Xanthomonas hederae, Xanthomonas incanae, Xanthomonas carotae, andXanthomonas translucene.

Generally, low concentrations of high molecular weight polymercorrelates to lower gel strength and higher concentrations of lowmolecular weight polymers yields a high strength gel. It is preferredthat the polymer have a molecular weight of at least 100,000. The upperlimit of molecular weight is unimportant so long as the polymer is atleast or can be made water-dispersible. Thus, polymers having molecularweights as high as 20,000,000 or higher, and meeting appropriateconditions otherwise, can be used.

The amount of such polymers used in the practice of the disclosure canvary widely depending upon the particular polymer used, the purity ofsaid polymer and properties desired in the resulting aqueous crosslinkedcompositions. In general, the amount of polymer used in preparing theaqueous compositions of the disclosure will be in the range of 0.0015 to5, preferably 0.01 to 1.0, weight percent, based upon the weight ofwater or aqueous medium. However, amounts out side these ranges can beemployed. The concentration of polymer is generally less than theconcentrations of silica and initiator.

Blends of polymers may be used in the practice of the disclosure. It isunderstood that the term polymer when used in the present disclosure,may also refer to blends of polymers. For example, a blend of two ormore polyacrylamides of differing molecular weights, a blend of apolyacrylamide and a cellulose ether polymer or heteropolysaccharidepolymer may be used to tailor the methods of the dicslosure to providethe desired gel time or gel quality. The concentration of such polymericblends is within the ranges herein stated.

The “reactive carbonyl” initiators used in the present disclosure mayfall under the broad chemical functional group categories of aldehydes,esters, amides, carbonates, anhydrides, nitriles, ketones,carbohydrates, sulfoxides, ureas, hydantoins, carbamates,lignosulfonates, low molecular weight polycarbonates, etc. to name afew. Low molecular weight polyimines such as polyethyleneimine whichtend to react like a “reactive carbonyl” in a silica-polymer environmentmay be used in the methods of the present disclosure. More specificexamples might be formaldehyde, ethyl acetate, triacetin, ethylenecarbonate, propylene carbonate, diphenyl carbonate, glyoxal, formamide,N-methyl formamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, hydantoin, methyl carbamate,diphenyl carbonate, butyrolactone, pyrrolidone, N-methylpyrrolidone,succinic anhydride, dimethyl sulfoxide, urea, ammonium lignosulfonate,polyhexamethylene carbonate diol, etc. The concentration of theinitiator in the formulation of one embodiment is between 0.05 percentand 50 percent by weight and more preferably 0.1 percent to 30 percentby weight.

Blends of initiators may be used in the practice of the methods of thepresent disclosure. It is understood that the term initiator when usedin the present disclosure, may also refer to blends of initiators. Forexample, a blend of two or more “reactive carbonyl” initiators ofdiffering chemical structure whether it be different alkyl groups on acarbonate or ester to provide retardation of the reaction rate viasteric hinderance or two different types of “reactive carbonyls” toallow tailoring of the gels in practice to provide the desired gel timeor gel quality. The concentration of such initiator blends is within theranges herein stated.

Other co-additives or adjuncts may be used to tailor the gel time orquality. Such adjuncts may be in the form of alkalinity additives, forexample, a small portion of a strong base such as potassium or sodiumhydroxide to stabilize the alkalinity of the system, a co-solvent toenhance solvation of the initiator, a dispersant to aid the use of aninsoluble polymer, a small amount of a clay to affect the absorptiveproperties of the polymer, or other such adjuncts as apparent to oneskilled in the art.

The SPI gel of the current disclosure provides a low cost silicatesystem that is mixed on the surface and pumped down hole for delayedformation of strong or weak elastic, resilient “green” gels. Thisformulation of the present disclosure is more favorable over theprevious current chromium based systems or even the original silicatesystems. It has environmentally friendly, low cost chemicals and itprovides a more resilient gel, controlled delayed gelation, simplersurface mixing and less labor to monitor and perform the treatment thanprevious technologies. The compositions of the present disclosure willallow deep penetrating treatments of oil and gas wells for long-termdiversion of formation and injected waters. These treatments will reduceexcess and unwanted water production from oil and gas wells resulting inoperational cost savings and increased recoverable oil and gas reserves.Stiffer gels from this same basic formulation can also be prepared forcasing repairs, preventing these damaged wells from being plugged andabandoned prematurely. Due to the low treatment cost and environmentalfriendly chemicals, it will be very cost effective for oil and gas welloperators to utilize.

Prior polymer gel systems use higher concentrations of polymer comparedto those of the present disclosure; and often the crosslinker systemsare based on chromium or other hazardous materials. There is a strongdesire for more environmentally friendly materials that are economicaland have the versatility of the chromium gels for making weak and stronggels.

The gels of the present disclosure also find application in the areas ofgrouting and sealing of rocks and other large materials. Otherapplications include stabilization of soils and other loose materialsfor the purposes of providing strength and sealing for improvedcompactness, resistance to wind and water erosion, water seepage, andpreventing sloughing. Other applications include the injection,pressurizing or applying the solution into the pores of a material tochange its strength, permeability and other properties. Additionalenvironmental purposes include a means for forming barriers to flow ofpolluting containments in the soils.

The gels of the present disclosure can also be used to repair or sealholes in buried pipelines, conduits, water or sewer or utility pipes orother buried pipes where a non-toxic, environmentally safe gel system isrequired to protect aquifers or ground waters. Such gels can be pumpeddown the line and placed across the leak and forced out the leak intosurrounding soils where it can form a hard gel to seal the leak. Gelsinternal to the pipe can be removed by various means known to industrybefore the pipe is put back into service.

This present disclosure also provides methods for in situ treatment ofsoil contaminated with acids and/or acid-forming chemicals to minimizeand/or prevent leaching there from of objectionable chemicals withsubsequent acid pollution of ground and surface waters. Such is the casefrom coal mining waste. Such waste contains iron pyrite sulfur which iseventually oxidized to sulfuric acid. Alkali metal silicates of thistype could be used to neutralize the acid mine drainage waste.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, aspects of the silicatechnology (economics and environmentally attractive) are combined withaspects of the crosslinked polymer technology (elastic gels andversatility) products for casing plugging and permeability modificationapplications. Both soft and hard gels with elasticity are formed fromthe combination of the agents described herein and at low concentration.Reducing the limitations and requirements for alternating slugs ofsodium silicate and the initiators of the art with fresh water buffersis also preferred for easier field application.

EXAMPLE 4

An initiator for the purpose of this disclosure is defined as a chemicalwhich causes the delayed formation of a gelatinous silica when added toa sodium silicate solution. Table 1 shows the delayed gel times for gelsformed using sodium silicate (N-Sodium Silicate is commerciallyavailable from PQ Corporation, Valley Forge, Pa.) and glyoxal(Commercially available from BASF Corporation in Florham Park, N.J.) orpropylene carbonate (Commercially available from Huntsman Chemical inSalt Lake City, Utah). These gels do not have a polymer component, butdemonstrate gelation with time delay to form a hard brittle gel ispossible without the use of polymer. Hard brittle gels are notconsidered very useful in most embodiments. Propylene carbonate is morereactive than glyoxal. At low concentrations, significant gel delay isfeasible. Glyoxal was used as a 40 percent solution. The water contentsfrom the glyoxal solution and the N-Sodium Silicate were not consideredin the total water weight percent. For example, 3.00 g of N-SodiumSilicate and 3.00 g of Glyoxal were added to 6.00 g of Bartlesville TapWater (BTW) and mixed in a sealed vial. The total water is calculated as50 percent by weight of the total.

TABLE 1 Gel Formation with Sodium Silicate and Glyoxal or PropyleneCarbonate Entry Sodium Propylene Num- Silicate, Glyoxal, Carbonate,Water, Gel ber Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Gel Time Strength¹ 1 25.00 25.000 50.00  12 min. HB 2 16.67 16.67 0 66.66  50 min. HB 3 34.92 0 33.3331.75 Instant 4 20.95 0 20.00 59.05  10 sec 5 9.52 0 9.09 81.39   5 min6 8.38 4.00 87.62  50 min. HB 7 8.55 0 2.04 89.41 >120 min 8 4.71 0 1.1294.17 Overnite HB ¹HB = Hard Brittle Gel

EXAMPLE 5

A 5000 ppm (0.5 wt percent) stock solution of polyacrylamide (commercialSuperfloc® A-120 HMW Flocculant, 20 percent hydrolyzed, is availablefrom CYTEC Industries, Inc. in West Patterson, N.J.) was prepared.N-Sodium Silicate (3.00 g), Glyoxal (3.00 g) and 5.00 g of thePolyacrylamide (PAM) stock solution were mixed in a sealed vial. Thevial was observed until the sample gelled to form a hard elastic gel asindicated in Table 2, Entry 1. The water from the polyacrylamide isconsidered in the weight percent calculation for water.

The gels formed in Table 2 are listed in the order of increasing geltime between sodium silicate, glyoxal and polyacrylamide. Lowerconcentrations of sodium silicate, glyoxal and 20% hydrolyzed PAMtranslate into longer gel times and weaker elastic gels. PAM at 0.03weight percent or 300 ppm PAM is one to two orders of magnitude lowerpolymer concentration than conventional chromium redox crosslinkedpolymer systems cited earlier. Typical PAM concentrations when used withchromium are in the 0.5 to 1.5 weight percent range. The silica gelswith polyacrylamide are a “hybrid” between those highly elastic gelsmade with chromium and the brittle gels made in Table 1 withoutpolyacrylamide. The hard elastic gels shown in Table 2 would beexcellent prospects for use in casing leak plugging. Entry 8 in Table 2took 3-5 days to form. This was a soft elastic gel similar to thoserequired for permeability modification. They tend to firm slowly withtime. The chemical cost for the gel in Entry 8 is in the range of $4/Bbl(42 gal) of fluid.

TABLE 2 Gel Formation With Sodium Silicate, Glyoxal and PolyacrylamideSodium PAM, (20% Entry Silicate, Hydrolysis) Glyoxal, Gel Gel Number Wt.% Wt. % Wt. % Water, Wt. % Time Strength¹ 1 27.27 0.23 27.27 45.23 5 minHE 2 18.75 0.16 18.75 62.34 15 min HE 3 18.75 0.31 18.75 62.19 30 min HE4 14.29 0.12 14.29 71.31 35 min HE 5 9.38 0.16 9.38 81.09 50 min HE 66.25 0.10 6.25 87.40 90 min HE 7 4.84 0.05 4.84 90.27 120 min HE 8 2.680.03 2.68 94.62 3–5 days SE-hard with time ¹HE = Hard Elastic Gel²SE-hard with time = Soft Elastic gel that hardens slowly with time.

EXAMPLE 6

The gel entries in Table 3 are identical except for the level of PAMhydrolysis ranging between 0 to 20%. In the first entry, the PAManionicity or level of hydrolysis is 20% (Superfloc A-120 HMW, CYTEC),second entry 16% hydrolysis (Superfloc A-110 HMW, CYTEC), the thirdentry 7% hydrolysis (Superfloc A-100 HMW, CYTEC) and the fourth entry 0%hydrolysis. The polymers are all roughly 12 million molecular weigh andother properties are the same in the family of products. The datasuggests the degree of hydrolysis has no effect on gel time gel time.

However, the non-ionic (0% hydrolysis) polyacrylamide made a hardringing gel and the other gels at these concentrations were hard gelsbut they did not ring.

TABLE 3 Effect of Polyacrylamide Anionicity on Gel Formation with SodiumSilicate and Propylene Carbonate Sodium Propylene Gel Entry Silicate,PAM Carbonate, Water, PAM, % Time, Number Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Wt. %Hydrolyzed Minutes 1 8.89 0.22 2.22 88.67 20 66 2 8.89 0.22 2.22 88.6716 84 3 8.89 0.22 2.22 88.67 7 63 4 8.89 0.22 2.22 88.67 0 67

EXAMPLE 7

The data in Table 4 shows the potential to make hard elastic gels usingN-Sodium Silicate, polyacrylamide and propylene carbonate with gel timesup to 21.5 hours. These gels are cost effective and can be made withsubstantial delay times ranging from 3 to 22 hours (required for casinghole plugging) up to 5 days for the softer elastic gel as required forpermeability modification.

TABLE 4 Concentration Effects on Gel Formation with Sodium Silicate,Propylene Carbonate and Polyacrylamide Sodium PAM, (20% Propylene EntrySilicate, Hydrolysis) Carbonate, Water, Gel Time, Number Wt. % Wt. % Wt.% Wt. % Minutes 1 8.06 0.38 7.69 83.86 20 2 8.38 0.40 4.00 87.22 30 38.55 0.41 2.04 88.90 60 4 16.36 0.20 2.04 81.39 69 5 13.79 0.07 3.4582.69 3 hrs 6 4.84 0.05 4.84 90.27 4 hrs 7 2.86 0.10 1.90 95.14 21.5 hrs8 2.68 0.03 2.68 94.62 20.6 hrs 7 1.42 0.01 1.42 97.16 5 days

EXAMPLE 8

Gels made with 7.69 weight percent N-Sodium Silicate, 0.05 weightpercent and 5.13 weight percent of various functional group reactivecarbonyl initiators are shown in Table 5. Phenyl carbamate, H₂NCO₂C₆H₅,formed a hard elastic ringing gel with in 12 minutes. Hydantoin or2.4-Imidazolinedione shown below also acts an initiator to gel thesilica—polymer system.

Triacetin or glyceryl triacetate, (CH₃CO₂CH₂)₂CHO₂CCH₃ forms a gel withalmost twice the delay of propylene carbonate. γ-Butyrolactone gels inabout the same time as propylene carbonate. It was founds thatformaldehyde does not gel and acetic anhydride has a gel delay of 12-18hours.

TABLE 5 Effects on Sodium Silicate and Polyacrylamide Gel Formation withDifferent Initiators Formula: 7.69 wt % Sodium Silicate; 5.13 wt %Initatior; 0.05 wt % PAM; 87.13% BTW Entry No. Initiator Gel Time, Min.Comments 1 Ethylene Carbonate 27 Hard Elastic Ringing Gel 2 PropyleneCarbonate 27 Hard Elastic Ringing Gel 3 Diphenyl Carbonate Insoluble 4Poly(hexamethylenecarbonate)diol Insoluble 5 Phenyl Carbamate 12 HardElastic Ringing Gel 6 Hydantoin 17 Hard Elastic Ringing Gel 7Γ-Butyrolactone 34 Hard Elastic Ringing Gel 8 Triacetin 61 Hard ElasticRinging Gel 9 Ethyl Acetate 60 Hard Elastic Ringing Gel 10 Formaldehyde,37% Soluble No Gel 11 Acetic Anhydride >12 hrs Hard Elastic Gel 12Ethyl-3-hydroxybutyrate Insoluble

Sodium silicate and PAM are stable in solution together for monthswithout forming a gel, however the PAM level of hydrolysis may increasewith time. Thus, these two components may be pre-mixed and the initiatoradded just prior to pumping downhole when practicing methods of thepresent disclosure in the field. Likewise, PAM and the initiators form astable mixture without gelation allowing these two entities to bepremixed in the field. Sodium silicate and the initiators form a brittlegel with a relatively short gel time as in Example 4.

EXAMPLE 9

The pH of the polymer stock solutions was raised by the addition of 0.1M sodium hydroxide. For a composition containing 6.15 weight percentN-Sodium Silicate, 1.54 weight percent propylene carbonate, and 0.04weight percent SF-120 polyacrylamide, the pH of the polymer solutionranged from 5.5 to 8.5 extending the gel times from 6 to 48 hours asshown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Effect of pH on Gel time of Silica-PAM-Initiator Gels EntryNumber pH Polymer Soln. Gel Time, Hrs. 1 5.5 6 2 6.5 7 3 7.5 9 4 8.5 48

EXAMPLE 10

The tolerance to KCl brine was determined on a base solution of 4.00grams N-Sodium Silicate, 15.00 grams of a 5,000 ppm of a 50/50 blend ofSF-N300 and SF N-300 LMW polyacrylamide solution, 1.00 g of ethylacetate, and 20.00 grams BTW water containing the amounts of KCl shownin Table 7.

TABLE 7 Effect of KCl brine on SPI Gel Entry KCl KCl Wt. Gel No. Amt., gPercent Time Comments 1 0 0  5 Hrs. HE¹ Ringing Gel, No Syneresis 2 0.250.75  2 Hrs. Firm, Elastic, Very Slight Syneresis 3 0.50 1.50 65 Min.Soft Elastic Gel, Slight Syneresis 4 0.75 2.25 50 Min. Soft Elastic Gel,Slight Syneresis 5 1.00 3.00 45 Min. Soft Elastic Gel, Slight SyneresisHE = Hard Elastic

As shown in Table 7 above, the addition of KCl significantly reduces thegel time for solutions where propylene carbonate is the initiator, butother slower acting initiators will allow extended gel times. EXAMPLE 11

Different polymers types were used to form gels using a base formulationof 4.00 g of N-Sodium Silicate, 20.00 g of a 2,500 ppm polymer solution,and 1.00 g of propylene carbonate. This corresponds to 8.89 weightpercent sodium silicate, 2.22 weight percent propylene carbonate, 0.11weight percent of polymer and 88.78 weight percent water.

Drispac® polymer and HE® polymers are available from DrillingSpecialties Company, Houston, Tex. Drispac® polymer is a 0.9 degree ofsubstitution carboxymethylcellulose polymer. HE 100 is a copolymer ofAMPS (sodium salt of 2-Acrylamido-2-Methyl Propane Sulfonic acid) andacrylamide. HE 300 polymer is a copolymer of VP (Vinyl Pyrrolidone) andAcrylamide. AC 254S is Alcoflood 254S available from CIBA SpecialityChemicals Water Treatment Inc., in Sulfok, Va. It is a 250,000 molecularweight polyacrylamide with 7 percent hydrolysis. Natrosol 250HHR is ahydroxyethylcellulose (HEC) non-ionic polymer available fromHercules-Aqualon in Wilmington, Del. Kelzan® XC polymer is availablefrom Kelco Oilfield Group, Houston, Tex. Goodrite® polymers areavailable from B F Goodrich Specialty Chemicals in Cleveland, Ohio.

TABLE 8 Effect of Polymer Type on SPI Gel Entry No. Polymer Polymer TypeGel Time Comments 1 Drispac ® polymer CMC-9 10 Min. Very Brittle Gel,Severe Syneresis 2 HE ® 100 polymer AMPS/AM 13 Min. Hard Elastic Gel. 3Natrosol ® 250 HHR HEC  4 Min Hard Elastic Gel. 4 HE ® 300 polymer VP/AM10 Min. Hard Elastic Gel. 5 AC 254S PAM 7% Hydrolysis 12 Min. HardElastic Ringing Gel 6 Kelzan XC polymer Xanthan Gum  9 Min. Hard ElasticGel 7 Goodrite 732 Polyacrylic Acid 10 Min Very Hard Elastic Gel Mwt5000, pH = 2.62 8 Goodrite 766 Sodium 10 Min Very Hard Elastic GelPolymethacrylate MWt 5000, pH = 8.5

EXAMPLE 12

The data in Table 9 shows the potential to make good hard and weakelastic gels using N-Sodium Silicate, polyacrylamide and differentinitiators at elevated temperatures. Gel times are shortened at elevatedtemperatures as expected.

TABLE 9 Effect of Elevated Temperature On SPI Gels Sodium PAM EntrySilicate 20% Hyd Initiator Water Temperature Gel Time Gel No. Wt. % Wt.% Wt. % Wt. % ° F. Minutes Description 1 2.50 0.01 A 95.00 RT 420 HardElastic 2 2.50 0.01 A 95.00 140 88 Hard Elastic 3 2.50 0.01 B 95.00 20080 Weak Elastic 4 2.50 0.01 C 95.00 200 48 Weak Elastic 5 16.00 0.10 D79.90 RT No Gel 6 16.00 0.10 D 79.90 200 180 Weak Elastic Initiators: A= 2.50 weight percent propylene carbonate B = 2.50 weight percent ethylacetate C = 2.50 weight percent triacitin D = 4.00 weight percentformaldehyde

EXAMPLE 13

Pressure extrusion tests were performed to provide a measure of gelstrength of the silica polymer initiator gels of the present disclosure.The test was performed in pressurized cylinder with air pressure used topush a piston to force the gel through a small hole at the other end. Asteel cylinder fitted with screw caps on each end was constructed. Oneend of the cylinder had a 3/16 inch hole to extrude the gel underpressure. The cylinder had a piston fitted with an o-ring located insidethe cylinder and a guide rod that connects to the piston on one end andthe rod extends through a hole in the other end of the cylinder cap. Thepiston moved freely. The guide rod cap also has a fitting whereby thecylinder can be pressurized with air to force the piston to the otherend of the cylinder.

The Silica Polymer Initiator gel components were placed in the cylinderthrough the 3/16 inch hole and left for 48 hours to form a hard rigidgel. After 48 hours, the cylinder was mounted with the 3/16 inch holesupported over a beaker to collect the extruded gel. The pressure inletwas connected to a source of compressed air. The pressure was slowlyincreased to the point whereby the piston starts to push against thegelled system and extrude through the 3/16 inch hole and that pressureis held constant and recorded.

Two gels were tested. In one embodiment, the SPI gel of the presentdisclosure had a base formulation of 6.00 g of N-Sodium Silicate, 30.00g of a 2,500 ppm polymer solution, and 1.00 g of propylene carbonate asshown in Table 10. This corresponds to 12.77 weight percent sodiumsilicate, 2.13 weight percent propylene carbonate, 0.16 weight percentof polymer and 84.95 weight percent water. In the second embodiment, thegel was a standard polyacrylamide/CMC (0.30% PAM/0.7% CMC) blended gelat 10,000 ppm total polymer concentration crosslinked with Cr+3 ions asper Phillips Petroleum patent # 4,043,921 using 0.15 weight percentsodium dichromate and 0.20 weight percent sodium bisulfite.

The SPI gel with comparable raw material cost to Phillips Petroleum gelwas stronger and more resistant to extrusion by a factor of 2.5-3 timesas shown below.

TABLE 10 Gel Strength of SPI Gels Compared With the Prior Art Gels Typegel Pressure to Initiate Extrusion Phillips  8 psi Phillips  7 psi SPI25 psi SPI 20 psi

A standard SPI gel composition was subjected to both a 37 API crude oiland Bartlesville water to determine if SPI gel would dilute. After 6months exposure, the gel was not diluted by either oil or water.

EXAMPLE 14

A sample of 2,500 ppm SFA-120 PAM was sheared in a Waring Blender for 60seconds to a very low viscosity.solution. Gels for Entries 1 and 2 ofTable 12 were made using 2.00 g of N-Sodium Silicate, 10.00 g of PAM,and 0.50 g of propylene carbonate. The gels for Entries 3 and 4 of Table12 were made by the addition of 2.00 g Sodium Silicate, 5.00 g of PAM0.50 g of propylene carbonate and 10.00 g of BTW. The data in Table 12indicate a 20-25 percent reduction in gel time due to the effect ofshear.

TABLE 12 Effect of Shear on the SPI Gels Sodium PAM, (20% PropyleneEntry Silicate, Hydrolysis) Carbonate, Water, Polymer Gel Time, No. Wt.% Wt. % Wt. % Wt. % Sheared Min. 1 16.00 0.20 4.00 79.80 No 8 2 16.000.20 4.00 79.80 Yes 6 3 11.43 0.071 2.86 85.64 No 21 4 11.43 0.071 2.8685.64 Yes 17

It will be appreciated that in one embodiment, the present disclosuredescribes an aqueous mixture with controllable delayed gel time and thedesired gel properties of elasticity and strength. A multitude ofapplications are contemplated. In one embodiment, the composition,solution, or gel in its various forms is water based and incorporates atleast three components: A) a water soluble silicate solution of analkali metal(s); B) a water dispersible polymer; and C) a water solubleinitiator from the functional groups containing reactive carbonylcompounds.

The water soluble silicate component (component A) may be furtherdefined as an amount of a water soluble silicate solution of an alkalimetal such as sodium, potassium and combinations thereof. The watersoluble silicate component (component A) may also be further defined asan amount of a water soluble silicate solution of an alkali metal suchas sodium, potassium and combinations thereof. The component A may bederived from concentrated aqueous solutions having in the range of fromabout 38 to 55 parts solids per hundred parts of solution and a pH inthe range of from 10 to 13 and have a molar ratio of silicon dioxide toalkali metal oxide in the range of from about 0.5:1 to about 3.5:1 andmost preferably, the ratio should be from about 3:1 to about 3.5:1wherein the concentration of alkali metal silicate in the water solutioncan vary over a wide range from 0.05 to percent to 50 percent andpreferably between 1 to 30 percent.

The polymer (component B) may be defined as an amount of awater-dispersible polymer selected from the group consisting ofpolyacrylamides or polymethacrylamide. The polymeric materials may alsoinclude up to about 50 percent of the carboxamide groups that can behydrolyzed to carboxyl groups and wherein the preferredpolyacrylamide-type polymers include the various substantially linearhomopolymers and copolymers of acrylamide and methacrylamide wherein thecopolymer contain sufficient acrylamide or methacrylamide be present inthe monomer mixture to impart to the copolymer the above-describedwater-dispersible properties. This may be, for example, from about 10 toabout 99 percent acrylamide and from about 1 to 90 percent of otherethylenically unsaturated monomers including acrylic acid, methacrylicacid, methacrylate esters, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl sulfonic acid, vinylbenzyl sulfonic acid, vinyl benzene sulfonic acid, vinyl acetate,acrylonitrile, methylacrylonitrile, vinyl alkyl ether, vinyl chloride,maleic anhydride, and derivatives thereof. The ethylenically unsaturatedmonomers may include N-alkyl-substituted acrylamides wherein thenitrogen atoms and the carboxamide groups can have from 1 to 2 alkylsubstituents which contain from one to four carbon atoms such asN-methylacrylamide, N-propylacrylamide, N-butylacrylamide,N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-methyl-N-sec-butylacrylamide, and the like andother N-alkyl-substituted acrylamides. The nitrogen atoms and thecarboxamide groups can have an alkyl sulfonic acid group or salt thereofsuch as 2-Acrylamido-2-MethylPropane Sulfonic acid. The carboxyl groupsin the acrylamide or methacrylamide in the copolymer are in the acidform and also such polymers wherein the carboxyl groups are in the saltform, providing said salts are at least water-dispersible and includesthe ammonium salts, the alkali metal salts, and others which are atleast water-dispersible.

In another embodiment, the polymer is further defined as a specifiedamount of a water-dispersible polymer selected from the group consistingof: polyacrylamides and polymethacrylamide. The polymeric materials mayinclude up to about 50 percent of the carboxamide groups that can behydrolyzed to carboxyl groups. The preferred polyacrylamide-typepolymers include the various substantially linear homopolymers andcopolymers of acrylamide and methacrylamide wherein the copolymercontain sufficient acrylamide or methacrylamide be present in themonomer mixture to impart to the copolymer the above-describedwater-dispersible properties. In one embodiment this will be from about10 to about 99 percent acrylamide and from about 1 to 90 percent ofother ethylenically unsaturated monomers including acrylic acid,methacrylic acid, methacrylate esters, vinyl pyrrolidone, vinyl sulfonicacid, vinyl benzyl sulfonic acid, vinyl benzene sulfonic acid, vinylacetate, acrylonitrile, methylacrylonitrile, vinyl alkyl ether, vinylchloride, maleic anhydride, and derivatives thereof and ethylenicallyunsaturated monomers including N-alkyl-substituted acrylamides. Thenitrogen atoms and the carboxamide groups can have from 1 to 2 alkylsubstituents which contain from one to four carbon atoms such asN-methylacrylamide, N-propylacrylamide, N-butylacrylamide,N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-methyl-N-sec-butylacrylamide, and the like andother N-alkyl-substituted acrylamide. The nitrogen atoms and thecarboxamide groups can have an alkyl sulfonic acid group or salt thereofsuch as 2-Acrylamido-2-MethylPropane Sulfonic acid and wherein thecarboxyl groups in the acrylamide or methacrylamide in the copolymer arein the acid form and also such polymers wherein the carboxyl groups arein the salt form, providing said salts are at least water-dispersibleand includes the ammonium salts, the alkali metal salts, and otherswhich are at least water-dispersible. The polymer used in preparing theaqueous compositions of the present disclosure may be in the range of0.0015 to 5 and preferably in the range of 0.01 to 1.0, weight percentof the total solution.

The polymer may be further defined as an aqueous gel wherein saidwater-dispersible polymer is instead selected from the group consistingof cellulose derivatives represented by the various alkali metal saltsof carboxyalkyl cellulose ethers such as carboxyethyl cellulose andcarboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); mixed ethers such as carboxyalkylhydroxyalkyl ethers such as carboxymethylhdyroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC);hydroxyalkyl celluloses such as hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropylcellulose; alkylhydroxylakyl celluloses such as methylhydroxypropylcellulose; alkyl celluloses such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose,and propyl cellulose; alkylcarboxylakyl celluloses such asethylcarboxymethyl cellulose; alkylalkyl celluloses such as methylethylcellulose; and hydroxyalkylalkyl celluloses such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose; and combinations thereof with the acrylamide polymers andcopolymers wherein said cellulose derivatives are present in theformulation at a level of between 0.01 to 1.5 weight percent. Thepolymer used in preparing the aqueous compositions of this disclosurewill be in the range of 0.0015 to 5 and preferably in the range of 0.01to 1.0, weight percent of the total solution.

In another embodiment, the polymer is further defined as an aqueous gelaccording to claim 1 wherein said water-dispersible polymer is insteadselected from the group consisting of cellulose derivatives representedby the various alkali metal salts of carboxyalkyl cellulose ethers suchas carboxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); mixedethers such as carboxyalkyl hydroxyalkyl ethers such ascarboxymethylhdyroxyethyl cellulose (CMHEC); hydroxyalkyl cellulosessuch as hydroxyethyl cellulose and hydroxypropyl cellulose;alkylhydroxylakyl celluloses such as methylhydroxypropyl cellulose;alkyl celluloses such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, and propylcellulose; alkylcarboxylakyl celluloses such as ethylcarboxymethylcellulose; alkylalkyl celluloses such as methylethyl cellulose; andhydroxyalkylalkyl celluloses such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose; andcombinations thereof with the acrylamide polymers and copolymers. In oneembodiment, cellulose derivatives are present in the formulation at alevel of between 0.01 to 1.5 weight percent.

In another embodiment the water-dispersible polymer is instead selectedfrom the group consisting of water-dispersible heteropolysaccharidesproduced by fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria of the genusXanthomonas such as Xanthomonas campestris, Xanthomonas begonia,Xanthomonas phaseoli, Xanthomonas hederae, Xanthomonas incanae,Xanthomonas carotae, and Xanthomonas translucene to form a Xanthan gum;and combinations thereof with the acrylamide polymers and copolymers.The heteropolysaccharide is present in the formulation at a level ofbetween 0.01 to 1.5 weight percent.

The initiator (component C) may be further defined as an amount of awater soluble initiator from the categories of functional groupscontaining reactive carbonyl compounds of certain aldehydes, esters,amides, carbonates, anhydrides, ketones, carbohydrates, carbamates,ureas, hydantoins, or heteroatom substituted derivatives of reactivecarbonyls from the functional groups categories of nitriles, imines,sulfoxides, sulfones, sulfonates, and lignosulfonates or alpha, betaunsaturated carbonyl derivatives, beta hydroxy carbonyl derivatives, andbeta phenyl or beta phenoxy substituted carbonyls. These functionalgroups are located on monomeric, dimeric, trimeric and low molecularweight polymeric substrates that are at least partially water soluble.The concentration of the reactive carbonyl initiator (component C) inthe water formulation is between 0.05 percent and 50 percent by weightand more preferably 0.1 percent to 30 percent by weight.

In another embodiment, the initiator is further defined as an amount ofa water soluble initiator from the categories of functional groupscontaining reactive carbonyl compounds of certain aldehydes, esters,amides, carbonates, anhydrides, ketones, carbohydrates, carbamates,ureas, hydantoins, or heteroatom substituted derivatives of reactivecarbonyls from the functional groups categories of nitriles, imines,sulfoxides, sulfones, sulfonates, and lignosulfonates or alpha, betaunsaturated carbonyl derivatives, beta hydroxy carbonyl derivatives, andbeta phenyl or beta phenoxy substituted carbonyls. These functionalgroups are located on monomeric, dimeric, trimeric and low molecularweight polymeric substrates that are at least partially water soluble.The concentration of the reactive carbonyl initiator in the waterformulation is between 0.05 percent and 50 percent by weight and morepreferably 0.1 percent to 30 percent by weight.

The ingredients of the compositions described herein may be combined inpredetermined orders or in predetermined ratios to achieve desiredresults. For example, the concentration of silicate (component A) in thegel solution may be used to control gelation time and gel properties.The concentration of polymer (component B) in the gel solution may alsobe used to control gelation time and gel properties. Similarly, theconcentration of initiator (component C) in the gel solution may be usedto control gelation time and gel properties. Temperature may also beused to control gel time and gel properties of the solution. In someembodiments, divalent salt content cations may be used to control geltime and properties of the solution.

It will be appreciated that the above described composition may beemployed in various areas and in various uses where the properties ofthe composition are beneficial. Some examples of applications of thecompositions of the present disclosure are described below, but thecompositions of the present disclosure are not limited to theillustrative examples given herein. Water and the three componentsdescribed above may be mixed at preset ratios and pumped as one fluidfor delayed gelation. The solution may be pumped into a porous reservoirrock for delayed gelation for diversion of fluid flow, or pumped intofractures in the reservoir rock for delayed gelation.

In another embodiment, the gel fluid of water-like viscosity is pumpedinto an injection well to enter and block off thief zones with a delayedgel formation and thereby permit the forcing of oil from the lesspermeable zones by the application of fluid pressure directly to suchzones, without the loss of fluid and fluid pressure through the adjacentthief zones. The gelled solution or gelling fluid may also be pumpeddown a well casing, displaces into and across a given depth and used tocreate hard gels to hold a solid pressure in the casing or to blockencroachment of foreign water into a production or injection well. Instill another embodiment, the solution is pumped into a well anddisplaced to mitigate unwanted water production from the subterraneanformation in oil and gas wells by pumping the gel solution and forming agel in the formation.

In other embodiments, the gelling fluid is pumped into a well and usedto treat or repair poor cement jobs to block encroachment of foreignwater into that producing or injection well. The gelling fluid may alsobe used to treat the subterranean formation is an environmentallyfriendly aqueous mixture. The solution may be mixed with loose solidmaterials and used as a carrier fluid to pump or transport said solidmixture or pumped into or sprayed onto a porous mixture of soil, gravel,cement, or other loose materials and allowed to set or gel and hold themixture in place. A porous material's properties can be transformed byfilling (partially or fully) its pores with the SPI gels. The gelsolution can also be pumped inside a pipe and displaced across a breaksor ruptures in the pipe for sealing and/or repair.

In other embodiments, a gel fluid of a slightly thickened viscosity canbe pumped into an injection well fracture to avoid leak-off into theporosity and permeability of the fracture faces. This fluid may continueto gel with a delayed nature and thereby permit the redirection of waterinto the zone with improved sweep efficiency.

In further embodiments, the gelling fluid is pumped into a well and usedto treat or repair poor cement jobs to block encroachment of foreignwater into that producing or injection well. The gelling fluid can beused to treat the subterranean formation is an environmentally friendlyaqueous mixture. The solution may be mixed with loose solid materialsand used as a carrier fluid to pump or transport said solid-liquidmixture.

Using the gel solution formulated for a resulting hard gel, the gelsolution may pumped into or sprayed onto a porous mixture of soil,gravel, cement, or other loose materials and allowed to set or gel andstabilize said mixture in place. Such a solution could be used toimmobilize fibrous materials, including hazardous materials such asasbestos. Such a solution could also be pumped inside a pipe anddisplaced across breaks or ruptures in said pipe for sealing, repair,and/or restoration of integrity. Typically, the gel solution of thepresent embodiment will be pumped into subterranean pipes. For purposesof this disclosure, the term subterranean is taken to mean buried at anydepth, whether shallow or deep. The gels of the present disclosure arenot limited to use in pipes at any particular depth.

The compositions, solutions, and gels of the present disclosure couldalso be used to isolate an environmental contamination by injecting theformulation into a series of wells to provide a barrier or environmentalfence to keep the mobile containment from moving laterally orvertically. Solids may be mixed with the formulation, gelled orungelled, to form a slurry mixture and the slurry then pumped ortransported. Selective plugging of a porous formation at elevatedtemperatures due to geothermal or steamflood or fireflood applicationsor from the natural temperature gradient is also possible. Drillingoperations to plug or control lost circulation zones and forming adownhole liner in pipe or across an open formation for holestabilization or prevent fluid movement are also possible applications.Plugging off zones to reduce water influx or to reduce lost of drillingfluids, commonly called ‘lost circulation’ is also contemplated.

In other embodiments, the gel fluid of water-like viscosity is pumpedinto an injection well to enter and block off thief zones with a delayedgel formation and thereby permit the forcing of oil from the lesspermeable zones by the application of fluid pressure directly to suchzones, without the loss of fluid and fluid pressure through the adjacentthief zones. The gelled solution or gelling fluid may be pumped down awell casing, displaces into and across a given depth and used to createhard gels to hold a solid pressure in the casing or to blockencroachment of foreign water into a production or injection well. Thesolution may be pumped into a well and displaced to mitigate unwantedwater production from the subterranean formation in oil and gas wells bypumping said gel solution and forming said gel in said formation.

The gelling fluid may be pumped into a well and used to treat or repairpoor cement jobs to block encroachment of foreign water into thatproducing or injection well. The gelling fluid can be used to treat thesubterranean formation in an environmentally friendly aqueous mixture.The gel could be used to isolate an environmental contamination byinjecting the formulation into a series of wells to provide a barrier orenvironmental fence to keep the mobile containment from moving laterallyor vertically. In partially gelled or ungelled form, the composition canpumped or transported into place.

Although the invention has been illustrated by the preceding examples,it is not to be construed as being limited to the materials or methodsdescribed. Various modifications, additives and embodiments can be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Furthermore, whilepresently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of thisdisclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications areencompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by theclaims.

1. A water based solution having a controllable gel time, the solutioncomprising: a predetermined ratio of a water soluble silicate solutionhaving at least one alkali metal; a predetermined ratio of a waterdispersible polymer; and a predetermined ratio of a water solubleinitiator containing a reactive carbonyl compounds.
 2. The solution ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one alkali metal is sodium.
 3. Thesolution of claim 1, wherein the at least one alkali metal is potassium.4. The solution of claim 1, wherein the water soluble silicate solutionfurther comprises: about 38 to 55 parts solid per hundred parts ofsolution; a molar ratio of silicon dioxide to the at least on alkalimetal in the range from about 3:1 to about 3.5:1; wherein the pH of thesolution is from about 10 to 13; and wherein the concentration of alkalimetal silicate in the solution is between about 1 and 30 percent.
 5. Thesolution of claim 1, wherein the polymer is selected from the groupconsisting of polyacrylamide and polymethacrylamide.
 6. The solution ofclaim 1, wherein the polymer is from 0.01 to 1 percent by weight of thetotal solution.
 7. The solution of claim 1, wherein the reactivecarbonyl compound is selected from the group consisting of aldehydes,esters, amides, carbonates, anhydrides, ketones, carbohydrates,carbamates, ureas, and hydantoins.
 8. The solution of claim 1, whereinthe initiator is between about 0.1 and 30 percent by weight of thesolution.
 9. The solution of claim 1, further comprising a stabilizingcrosslinked polyacrylate super absorbent polymer.
 10. The solution ofclaim 9, wherein the stabilizing amount of a crosslinked polyacrylatesuper absorbent polymer is from about 0.01 percent to about 2 percent byweight of the total solution.
 11. A method of using a water basedsolution having a controllable gel time, the method comprising:providing a predetermined ratio of a water soluble silicate solutionhaving at least one alkali metal; providing a predetermined ratio of awater dispersible polymer; providing a predetermined ratio of a watersoluble initiator containing a reactive carbonyl compounds; andcombining the water soluble silicate solution, the dispersible polymer,and the water soluble initiator.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein theratio of water soluble silicate solution is determined to select agelation time of the solution and resulting gel properties.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the ratio of polymer is determined to selecta gelation time of the solution and resulting gel properties.
 14. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the ratio of initiator is determined toselect a gelation time of the solution and resulting gel properties. 15.The method of claim 11, further comprising utilizing the temperature ofthe combined water soluble silicate solution, dispersible polymer, andwater soluble initiator to control gel time of the solution andresulting gel properties.
 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the stepof combining the water soluble silicate solution, the dispersiblepolymer, and the water soluble initiator further comprises mixing anytwo of the water soluble silicate solution, the dispersible polymer, andthe water soluble initiator for pumping and mixing the remainingcomponent on site for a delayed gelling.
 17. The method of claim 11,further comprising pumping the combined water soluble silicate solution,dispersible polymer, and water soluble initiator into a porous orfractured reservoir rock for delayed gelation and diversion of fluidflow.
 18. The method of claim 11, further comprising pumping thecombined water soluble silicate solution, dispersible polymer, and watersoluble initiator into one or more thief zones of a well.
 19. The methodof claim 11, further comprising pumping the combined water solublesilicate solution, dispersible polymer, and water soluble initiator intoa subterranean pipe for restoration of pipe integrity.
 20. The method ofclaim 11, further comprising applying the water soluble silicatesolution, dispersible polymer, and water soluble initiator combined intothe pores of materials for binding, sealing, strengthening or protectingsaid materials.